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Erie High School shooter receives 8½ to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2022 case

The defendant, Jim'Mare Crosby, now 17, was 14 years old when he shot a classmate in the school hallway in April 2022. The victim was his then 15-year-old cousin, who suffered severe intestinal injuries.

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An Erie teenager has been sentenced to up to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting his cousin at Erie High School in April 2022. The incident left the victim seriously injured, the student body and teachers traumatized, and the Erie School District forced to make millions of dollars worth of safety improvements.

The defendant, Jim'mare Crosby, 17, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Erie County Common Pleas Court and immediately received the sentence recommended by the Erie County District Attorney's Office and the defense – a minimum of 8.5 years and a maximum of 17 years. The sentence is at the high end of state sentencing guidelines.

Crosby was a 14-year-old freshman when he shot his cousin, then a 16-year-old sophomore, in a hallway at Erie High on April 5, 2022. Crosby was prosecuted as an adult.

“Schools used to be a safe place for students and teachers,” Judge John J. Mead told Crosby in sentencing. “Now these people have to be on guard as they walk through the hallways, which is a disgrace.”

Mead said he agreed to impose the recommended sentence after considering the seriousness of the crime as well as Crosby's age and rehabilitation opportunities.

District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz said the deal took into account the victim's desire to avoid a trial. She said she also consulted with the Erie School District.

The sentence is appropriate for a crime that affects more than just the victim, said Hirz.

“It’s the whole school, the whole community,” she told Mead.

Settlement includes serious charges against teenager

Crosby pleaded guilty to attempted murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, carrying a firearm without a permit and possession of a firearm on school property.

Crosby is being held in Erie County Prison on $100,000 bail and will receive credit for time served since his arrest shortly after the shooting.

Defendant apologizes for shooting

Erie police charged Crosby with 10 misdemeanors. The deal, which the prosecution and defense spent a year negotiating, retained the most serious charges – attempted murder and aggravated assault, first-degree felonies each punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. Those two charges were combined for sentencing purposes.

Crosby, handcuffed and wearing a prison uniform, spoke briefly in court, saying he wished the shooting had not happened.

“I feel sorry for the victim,” Crosby said.

The victim was not in the courtroom. Crosby's parents, grandmother and other relatives watched from the gallery. They did not address Mead.

Crosby's attorney, Gene Placidi, identified the victim as Crosby's cousin. Information presented at other hearings indicated that Crosby and the cousin were feuding, although the origin of the dispute was never disclosed in court.

“This is a tragic incident,” Placidi told Mead. He said Crosby expressed remorse to him.

“He hopes his cousin can forgive him,” Placidi said.

Crosby was accused of firing a 9mm pistol six times, hitting the victim three times – in the left leg, buttocks and stomach. The victim was shot while standing in the hallway with a group of nine other students. The victim suffered severe intestinal damage.

Crosby ran out of Erie High School after the shooting, and Erie police and other law enforcement were at the school within 90 seconds, according to prosecutors. The weapon used in the shooting has not been found.

DA: Hopefully pride will return to Erie High School

The shooting occurred on the first floor in the far southwest section of Erie High. The shooting was captured on video and helped police identify Crosby.

At that time, there were about 1,440 students at Erie High. The school was locked down.

According to Erie High School Principal Donald Orlando, who was present at the sentencing but did not address the court, 1,900 students currently live in the building.

Hirz told Mead she hopes Erie High continues to recover from the shooting. She said the “vast majority” of students at the school do not cause problems and Erie High and the Erie School District are committed to helping students.

Hirz said she did not want the shooting to determine Erie High School's performance.

“I hope pride can return,” she said.

Contact [email protected] or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X @ETNpalatella.

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